Friday, August 28, 2009

Today at Chicagoland Speedway, Canadian Alex Tagliani alongside investor Andre Azzi confirmed there intent to run the entire 2010 Indycar Series schedule under the banner FAZZT Race Team with the #77 Dallara.

Jim Freudenberg of Rubicon Sports Agency who negotiated the deal to purchase the assets of Roth Racing will become Chief Operating Officer (COO), while Azzi is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the newly formed FAZZT Race Team. The new team has also hired 16 year Walker Racing vet, Rob Edwards to run the day to day operations.

The team will be headquartered in Indianapolis but will have offices in Montreal including a research and development division.

"This is a dream come true for me. To be able to give my friend Alex Tagliani the opportunity to drive full time with the top notch team that we are assembling makes me extremely pleased. I cannot wait for March so we can get our team launched for our first full season of IndyCar Series racing. I intend to give this team every tool necessary to fulfill my dream of winning the Indy 500 and the IndyCar Series championship. Special thanks to my friend, Alexandre Dufresne and his firm, SpiegelSohmer Inc. to help make this all happen. " -Andre Azzi"Alex and I are privileged to be able to join Andre in his quest to create a top tier team in the IndyCar Series. The platform Andre is allowing us to create will give sponsors all the tools to necessary to show a return on their investments needed to justify motorsports sponsorships. In this economic environment, that is a critical part of the process to build a team. The network that Jason Priestley and I have set up over the last few years will enhance the relationships that Alex and I have been working to grow over the last several months. I am also honored to be able to continue working with Alex who is the hardest working driver in any paddock. His passion, creativity, and understanding of sponsors' needs gives our commercial side an incredible advantage." -Jim Freudenberg"This is a proud moment for me and I have worked extremely hard for this. It means a lot to have someone like Andre recognize my efforts and reward me with this opportunity. I'm elated to be a part of this new team and can't wait to go racing full time in the IndyCar Series with great equipment and an incredible team of people." -Alex Tagliani"I am excited to be offered the opportunity to help build this new team and work with my friend Alex again. His technical knowledge of the equipment we race is an extremely important piece of the puzzle we need to be successful. To be able to start something from the ground floor with Andre, Jim and Alex was an opportunity too good for me to pass up." -Rob Edwards